Magnetically operated valve



Oct. 18, 1932. PHELAN 1,883,240

IAGNETICALLY OPERATED VALVE Filed NOV. 2'7, 1925 Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS A. M. PHELAN, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB, BY. MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MINNEAPOLIS-HONEYWELL REGULATOR COMPANY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE MAGNETICALLY OPERATED VALVE Application filed November 27, 1925. Serial No. 71,860.

tially embraced by the other unitary member, i

- which latter embodies an electromagnetic coil. The magnetic coil is in the nature of a cap portion which may be fitted down over the valve member proper and secured thereto to eventuate a valve of desirable compactness and contour.

I am aware that valves have been heretofore proposed wherein an electromagnetic coil has been separably associated with ports and a valve opening and closing member, but

;.-. so far as I am aware, none of the valves of the prior art is so constructed as to eventuate two unitary but readily associable members which, when combined, eventuate a structure having the desirable compactness and op- F1 crating characteristics of my improved valve,

which features, as I will hereafter more fully point out, are especially necessary when such valves are used in connection with oil burning systems.

1? Again, as I will hereinafter describe, my

valve comprises a base portion which is integrally formed and drilled to eventuate ports, and a chamber in which the valve opening and closing member is movable. By thus forming the valve portion proper of one piece of metal the production cost of a structure embodying my invention is markedly reduced, and, moreover, a valve of desirable contour and compactness is obtained.

I furthermore so construct the cap or unitary portion containing the electromagnetic coil in such manner that when the later portion is combined with the valve portion proper a very desirable structure is obtained, particu larly so far as providing an electromagnetic valve capable of use in systems requiring a maximum number of parts in a minimum volume.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a valve embodying my invention Fig. 2 is a disassembled view in elevation of the valve, the two unitary parts being separated to show the manner of associating them; and

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view of the valve with the parts in operable association.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, my valve embodies two unitary portlons or members One of the unitary portions or members comprises a base member 10, which is integrally formed from a block of metal and drilled to provide the required inlet and outlet ports and valve chambers. An inlet port 11 is formed in one side of the aforesaid base 10, and below said inlet another opening or outlet 12 is drilled. A main port 13 serves to connect the inlet and outlet openings, this port being controlled by the movement of an iron plunger 14 which is vertically reciprocable in an upstanding tubular member 15, which latter is soldered or otherwise secured to the metal base 10 and rises substantially centrally therefrom, as shown.

I preferably form the valve body portion just described of brass or analogous material whereby the tubular member 15, which acts as a cap over the plunger 14, may be of drawn metal thereby lessening manufacturing costs. The brass tube is made very thin to eliminate eddy currents and the fact that this cap is of such material is of great advantage in the present combination in eliminating noises generally encountered as well as increasing the efficiency of the valve when operated on alternating current c1rcuits. This coaction of the cap with the magnetic circuit will be more specifically referred to later.

The two openings, that is, the inlet and outlet openings, are furthermore joined through an auxiliary opening 16, which latter is controlled by a manually operated member 17, shown for purposes of illustration in the drawing as a threaded port controlling member operable by a knurled portion 18 and adapted to be secured in adjusted position by a set screw 19 which latter is in threaded engagement with the base 10. By proper manipulation of this set screw 19 the auxiliary port 16 may be left in such condition that a constant flow therethrough is eventuated when the main plunger 14 is in closed position. This latter provision produces a very desirable structure in connection with systems such as oil burning systems.

My invention will find particular application in connection with the constant supply of fuel to a pilot light or burner from which the steam-generating burners are lighted, when desired, by movement of the main plunger 14: to open position. In this connection I wish to direct attention particularly to the compact arrangement which may be utilized when a valve embodying my invention is employed, it being observed that the valve ports or openings are combined in a unitary metallic block member such as base 10.

As heretofore described, the main plunger 14 is reciprocably mounted in the tubular portion 15 which rises from the base 10. A spring 20 is secured between the top of this tubular portion and the upper end of the plunger 14, whereby said plunger is constantly maintained in position to close the main port.

The other unitary member comprising my novel valve consists of a substantially cyli ndrical cap member 21 of iron, or analogous material, adapted to seat on a collar portion 22 of the base 10 and to be secured thereto frictionally by screws, or by other means.

' Within the cap portion 21 is disposed an electromagnetic coil 23 which is of elongated hollow cylindrical construction, while a tube 24 of bakelite, or other desirable material, forms the inner cylindrical surface of the cap member. This construction of the cap permits the, use of a number of thin iron washers directly below the coil and in the iron circuit which washers, when made of magnetic iron, greatly increase the efiiciency of my valve. When said cap member is fitted down over the base portion, as shown in Fig. 2, the electromagnetic coil embraces the upstanding tubular member. When, therefore,

said coil is energized, the electromagnetic lines thread through the iron plunger 14, which latter is raised against the action of the spring, whereby the main port opening between the inlet and outlet is controlled.

It will be observed, therefore, that the cap portion is so unitarily formed and so adapted for use with the valve portion of my structure that replacement of the said cap member may be easily effected. This is of marked advantage, since the cap portion is usually the one which first deteriorates.

As before indicated, the tube portion 15 is of brass or analogous material which, when combined with the iron magnetic circuit of the cap member 21, acts as a shading element thereby eliminating the noises generally encountered in magnetically operated devices, as well as promoting the efficiency of the valve when used on an alternating current circuit. Such noise elimination is a matter of marked advantage when my valve is employed, as heretofore indicated, in oil heating systems, or the like, especially when the latter are used in homes, where it is essential that no noise accompanying the operation of a device be detected, it being my observation that many otherwise acceptable domestic devices are unsuccessful because their operation occasions unwelcome noise. The fact that the ratio between the reluctance or air-gap paths for the leakage flux and plunger flux is large also promotes eiiiciency.

Moreover, the construction heretofore described is extremely compact. The base portion 10 may be either cylindrical or, as shown in the drawing, hexagonal in cross sectional contour, while the cap is of substantially the same cross sectional area. The joining of these two members, therefore, eventuatcs a valve of maximum compactness whereby the necessary elements are contained within a minimum volume. Such a construction also positively prevents any liquid or gas which passes through the valve body from contacting with the coil or other electrical or magnetic parts. Moreover, by providing the auxiliary opening in the base portion, as heretofore described, the valve is adaptable in oil burner systems wherein all of the above requirements are quite rigid, especially with respect to the cost of construction and compactness of arrangement, both of which are obtained by making the valve of two readily fissociable but easily operable unitary memers.

While I have described but one embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that many modifications therein may occur to those skilled in the art, particularly so far as concerns the basic idea of two readily associable unitary members so formed as to eventuate a compact electromagnetically operated fuel valve is concerned, and I desire, therefore, that my invention be limited only by wardly through the bottom of the valve the scope of the appended claims and by the showing of the prior art.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A valve device of the class described comprising a valve body provided with inlet and outlet ports, a valve seat therebetween, a vertical bore extending above said seat, and a vertical by-pass communicating with the inlet and outlet ports, a vertically movable magnetizable plunger disposed in said vertical bore for engaging said valve seat, a tube surrounding saidplunger and extending into said vertical bore and secured to the valve body, said tube having its upper end closed and extending above the valve body and said plunger, a coiled spring having its ends abutting the plunger and the closed end of the tube for biasing the plunger to engage said valve seat and thereby interrupt communication between the inlet and outlet ports, an adjustable screw extending upwardly through the bottom of the valve body and cooperating with said by-pass to regulate the quantity of fluid that may pass through the valve when said plunger is seated, and actuating means for said plunger superimposed upon said valve body and comprising a cylinder housing an electromagnetic coil that embraces said tube and said plunger, said actuating means being separable as a unit from said valve body and said cylinder slidingly engaging at its lower end with the upper portion of said valve body.

2. A valve device of the class described comprising two separable and independently assembled structures, one forming the valve and cooperating with said by-pass to adjust the quantity of fluid that may pass between the inlet and outlet ports when said plunger is seated upon said valve seat; and the said electromagnetically actuating means comprising a cylindrical body housing an electromagnetic coil, said coil and cylindrical body being adapted to slidingly engage with said valve body toembr'ace said tube and said plunger.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LOUIS A. M. PHELAN.

y and he other forming the electromagnetically actuating means for said valve body, the actuating means slidingly engaging with the valve body to constitute a unitary magnetically operated valve, said valve body having inlet and outlet ports with an intercommunicating passageway therebetween to form a valve seat, said valve body being also rovided with a vertical bore extending a ove said valve seat and a separate by-pass communicating with the inlet and outlet ports, a

vertically movable magnetizable plunger disposed in said vertical bore for disengaging or engaging said valve seat, said plunger extending above the valve body, a tubular member of nonmagnetizable' material surrounding said plunger and extending into and slidingly engaging with said vertical bore, said tubular member having its upper end closed and extending above said plunger, a coiled spring disposed within said tube and having its ends abutting said plunger and the closed end of said tube for biasing said plunger to interrupt communication between said mlet and outlet ports, an adjustable screw extending u 

